Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has openly criticized former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley for her failure to endorse former President Trump’s bid for the presidency. During an interview on Newsmax’s “The Balance,” DeSantis expressed his disappointment in Haley’s decision, citing the pledge signed by Republican primary candidates to endorse the party’s eventual nominee.
“I signed the pledge, and you signed the pledge saying that you’re gonna not take your ball and go home,” DeSantis remarked to Newsmax’s Eric Bolling. He emphasized the importance of honoring commitments and questioned whether Haley would do the same.
DeSantis further stated, “But the idea that somehow circumstances have changed… I think we all knew what we were doing when we did that, and you’ve got to make a judgment about whether that’s meaningful to you. And so for me, I tell people, you know, if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”
Haley, who suspended her campaign for the presidency after performing poorly on Super Tuesday, did not immediately endorse Trump. Instead, she called on Trump to earn the votes of those in the Republican party and beyond who did not support him. Haley’s top surrogate, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, expressed confidence that she would eventually support the former president.
Trump, who emerged victorious in 14 out of 15 states during Super Tuesday, is now on the path to securing the GOP presidential nomination and entering a general election rematch with President Biden.
While DeSantis criticized Haley for her lack of endorsement, it remains to be seen whether her decision will impact Trump’s campaign. The former president has invited Haley’s supporters to join the “MAGA movement” and expressed hope that Trump can earn their votes.
As the 2024 campaign trail unfolds, political observers eagerly await further developments and the potential alignment of key figures within the Republican party.
